Brother Of Franklin County Sheriff Recovering After Jethro Church Roof Collapse

The brother of Franklin County Sheriff Anthony Boen is recovering, and the other three hospitalized victims of a roof collapse Wednesday at a church in the unincorporated community of Jethro have been treated and released.

About 6:30 p.m., the trusses holding the roof of a 4,800-square-foot addition to Jethro Pentecostal Church in Ozark that was under construction collapsed. Four people were hospitalized, including Cody Jones, the younger brother of Sheriff Anthony Boen, and the church’s pastor, the Rev. Lamar D. Joy. Three others were treated at the scene, said Randy Boren, Franklin County EMS director.

Jones was airlifted to Fort Smith for hospital treatment for swelling of his spinal cord. Jones has had difficulty walking, but the swelling will likely go down in a matter of weeks, Boren said.

“He’s able to move everything, but he’s still having some numbness in some areas,” Boren said. “(The Sheriff) said the MRI was negative for any kind of an injury — that they felt that it was just swelling. There’re no fractures or broken bones or anything in his back or his neck.”

Jones is a youth minister at the church, Boren said.

Joy has since received hospital treatment and been released, along with the other two who were hospitalized.

“He’s at home now, is my understanding from the other church members,” Boren said.